Athena and the Muses

Athena and the Muses
Muses Sarcophagus. Roman, 240-260 CE. Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City.

• Discovered in 1872 in the Vigna Casali area outside Rome’s Aurelian Walls, this sarcophagus features the deceased at its center, depicted as an affluent woman bearing a scroll.
• Flanked by Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, and the nine Muses with their traditional attributes, the imagery celebrates artistic and intellectual distinction.
• The patron undoubtedly intended this monument to immortalize her lifelong dedication to culture and learning.

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